Insights and behind the scenes from our palaces
Royal Style in the Making: Meet the toile designers
09 November 2021
Textile Treatment Supervisor Libby Thompson introduces a collection of toiles inspired by royal designers, which opened the Royal Style in the Making exhibition.
The Tempest at Whitehall Palace
01 November 2021
1 November 1611 was the first recorded performance of William Shakespeare's The Tempest. Curator Brett Dolman reflects on the Jacobean court setting in which it was first performed and how its themes reflect the ambitions and fears of James I's reign.
Phillis Wheatley's Visit to the Tower of London in 1773
22 October 2021
Curator Charles Farris explores the incredible life and career of Phillis Wheatley, an important African American poet, who visited the Tower of London in 1773.
Torture at the Tower: The Case of John Gerard
04 October 2021
On the anniversary of the birth of John Gerard, Curator Alden Gregory reflects on the dark history of the Tower of London and how it resonates today.
Behind the scenes of Mind Behind the Myth with Daniel Regan
19 August 2021
Freelance photographic artist and group facilitator Daniel Regan reflects on his experience on the George III: Mind Behind the Myth project, and shares photographs of the time they spent working together.
Templars at the Tower
12 August 2021
Why is Friday 13th thought of as an unlucky date? One possibility is the arrest of the famous Knights Templar on a different Friday 13th, over 700 years ago. Postdoctoral researcher Rory MacLellan writes about this fascinating story of the imprisonment of the Templars at the Tower.
Restoring Genius: Grinling Gibbons's Carvings in the Orangery of Kensington Palace
30 July 2021
03 August marks the 300th anniversary of the death of Grinling Gibbons, the greatest woodcarver in British history. Buildings Curator Lee Prosser introduces us to some of his lesser-known but incredibly important works in the Orangery at Kensington Palace.
George III: The Mind Behind the Myth exhibition highlights
14 May 2021
In the George III, The Mind Behind the Myth exhibition, we explore George III’s treatment for his ‘madness’ which took place at Kew, in 1789, 1801 and 1804. We have also included objects which tell us something of his passion and interests, and in so doing we have tried to show something of the real person as well as the ‘madness’.
Caring for the Tower of London through lockdown
11 May 2021
While the Tower of London was closed to the public during the Covid-19 pandemic, much work was underway to protect the fabric of the building and the future of the palace. Assistant Curator Alfred Hawkins reveals one of the important projects that he has been working on behind the scenes.